Citations 2
Identification of Novel Rodent-Borne Orthohantaviruses in an Endemic Area of Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Etiology (CKDu) in Sri Lanka
Muthusinghe, Devinda S. , Shimizu, Kenta , Lokupathirage, Sithumini M. W., Wei, Zhouoxing , Sarathkumara, Yomani D. , Fonseka, G. R. A. , Senarathne, P. , Koizumi, Nobuo , Koizumi, Akio , Wickramasinghe, Chaminda, Tsuda, Yoshimi , Arikawa, Jiro , Yoshimatsu, Kumiko , Fonseka, G R Amanda , Matsuno, Keita , Gamage, Chandika D , Yoshimatsu, Kumiko , Kawakami, Tomonori , Ebihara, Hideki
Viruses | October 11, 2021 | Volume: 13 | Issue: 10 | Pages: 1984
We reported the genetic evidence of circulating hantaviruses from small mammals captured in a chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology (CKDu) hotspot area of Sri Lanka. The high seroprevalence of anti-hantavirus antibodies against Thailand orthohantavirus (THAIV) has been reported among CKDu patients and rodents in Sri Lankan CKDu hotspots. We captured 116 small mammals from CKDu endemic regions in the Polonnaruwa District of Sri Lanka. Seven animals (five out of 11 Mus booduga and two out of 99 Rattus rattus) were PCR-positive for the hantavirus. A rat-borne sequence was grouped with a THAIV-like Anjozorobe virus. In contrast, Mus-borne sequences belonged to the THAIV lineage, suggesting a novel orthohantavirus species according to the phylogenetic analyses and whole-genome comparisons. Our genetic evidence indicates the presence of two THAIV-related viruses circulating in this CKDu endemic area, suggesting a basis for further investigations to identify the infectious virus in patients with CKDu and the CKDu induction mechanism of these viruses.
The Unique Phylogenetic Position of a Novel Tick-Borne Phlebovirus Ensures an Ixodid Origin of the Genus Phlebovirus
Nao, Naganori, Mori‐Kajihara, Akina, Muramatsu, Mieko, Qiu, Yongjin , Torii, Shiho , Igarashi, Manabu , Kasajima, Nodoka, Mizuma, Keita, Yoshii, Kentaro , Sugimoto, Chihiro , Takada, Ayato , Matsuno, Keita , Ebihara, Hideki , Kajihara, Masahiro , Nakao, Ryo , Sawa, Hirofumi , Ebihara, Hideki
mSphere | June 12, 2018 | Volume: 3 | Issue: 3 | Pages: No page available
The emergence of novel tick-borne RNA viruses causing severe illness in humans has complicated the epidemiological landscape of tick-borne diseases, requiring further investigation to safeguard public health. In the present study, we discovered a novel tick-borne phlebovirus from Ixodes persulcatus ticks in Japan. While its viral RNA genome sequences were similar to those of mosquito/sandfly-borne viruses, molecular and biological footprints confirmed that this is a tick-borne virus. The unique evolutionary position of the virus allowed us to estimate the ancestral phlebovirus vector, which was likely a hard tick. Our findings may provide a better understanding of the evolution and emergence of phleboviruses associated with emerging infectious diseases, such as severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) and Heartland virus disease.